On first blush, with 37,000 km of coastline, it seems like a no-brainer, but this simple question leads to so many more:

Would it be a military service, civilian law enforcement service, or a combination? (And how does this fit, or not, with Australian law?)

How would it be funded, and would that have a consequence on the other services? (I think Bill Wells thoughts and commentary on the creation of the USCG in 1915 would be very interesting on how this would work.)

Yes lots of ways to deal with the missions. Looking at the Irish Navy they are really more coast guard than navy. In the US we have duplication between Coast Guard and Customs. In Australia it is Customs and Navy.

The Australian Federal Police, in jurisdiction terms, are also in the mix.

I like the Armidales but I think given the amount of territory they need to cover they are far, far too small. I think something about 700 to 800 tons would be better. A modern variation of something like this perhaps?

A better solution than forming a coastguard would be to increase the size of the Marine Unit and reduce the RAN patrol force but use a larger more “flighty” vessel with a better weapon and sensor fit like I suggested. The MU patrol inshore while the RAN providing out cover.

That’s why I think they need to get more for their patrol boat force & upgrade the existing Armidale class Patrol boats. I am thinking the Royal Australian navy can get a Corvette similar to the LCS or along the Lines of the SIGMA Class Corvette that can bridge between patrol and Combat duties. As far as for their Patrol boat force, I think they need to look at getting something along the lines of the Sentinel-class cutter to supplement the Armidale class Patrol boats.

WASHINGTON — Senior leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Australian Federal Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding Friday at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters to highlight common missions, interests, capabilities, and opportunities for collaboration.

The memorandum seeks to benefit the U.S. – Australia partnership by strengthening maritime cooperation, promoting personnel development, and fostering research into civil maritime law enforcement.

Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles D. Michel, deputy commandant for operations, and Andrew Colvin, commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, signed the memorandum.

“This agreement allows the Coast Guard and the Australian Federal Police to combine our strengths in common missions, interests and capabilities,” said Michel. “Australia has long been an ally of the United States, and we look forward to continuing to work together on maritime operations.”

“This MOU demonstrates the strength of the AFP and U.S. Coast Guard relationship and opens up new avenues of intelligence exchange,” said Colvin. “It highlights our joint efforts to disrupt transnational organised crime syndicates targeting Australia.”

For more information or to request images of the event, please contact Donna Lohr at 202-372-2154.

According to the German Navy blog, Marine Forum, “01 September, AUSTRALIA
Austal has delivered CAPE YORK, the last of eight CAPE-class offshore patrol vessels built for the Australian Border Force (ABF).”